racemic mixture

Also called a racemate, a mixture of equal quantities of the dextrorotatory, d-, or (+) and laevorotatory, l-, or (-), forms of an optically active compound. Racemic mixtures are denoted by the prefix (±) or dl-. A racemic mixture shows no optical activity.

Racemization is a chemical reaction in which an optically active compound is converted into a racemic mixture.

Related category

• ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

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